Last Updated on October 4, 2021 at 11:38 am
Prices of medicines and sale of expired medicines goes unregulated in Kashmir as some medical shops determine their own rates without any price-control management, consumers alleged.
A consumer Muhammad Arif from Srinagar alleged that an expiry date of a health device (Glucometer strips) used for testing of blood sugar was changed by a chemist shop by pasting a sticker on the pack of the device. He further added that November 2021 was the expiry date mentioned but it was changed to March 2022. He further said that this matter should be looked upon as it can affect the health of the patients.
An official of Legal Metrology Department (LMD) said that many complaints have been registered against the chemist shops for changing expiry dates of the health devices and price tags and in some cases fine was imposed on the owner of shop.
He said that the pricing of medicines is directly controlled by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
Previously, the LMD had informed to the office of the divisional commissioner Kashmir about the change in price and expiry dates of the health devices by private pharmaceutical shops. An official said that the divisional commissioner took the matter to NPPA but no further update was received.
Arshid Rasool, a customer from Srinagar complained that he purchased a strip of 10 tablets of Denzo -12 in Jammu for Rs 195 but the same strip was sold to him for Rs 350 in Kashmir.
Deputy Drug Controller, Irfana Shayiq said that soon the action will be taken against such chemist shops and if details are received, inspection can be conducted soon.
